remained completely unaware.

I took Emma home.

Ryan came through the door shortly after six. I was already in the kitchen.

He saw my face and stopped.

“Why was Melissa at Emma’s school today?”

Ryan slowly put down his keys. “I changed the arrangement.”

“Without telling me?”

“You weren’t listening.”

I stared at him. “So you lied to your sister and told her we both agreed?”

“I didn’t want to drag her into an argument.”

“You dragged her into our daughter’s school instead.”

He rubbed his face. “I don’t trust Travis.”

“Why?” I threw my hands up. “Give me a reason.”

He stayed silent.

I stepped closer.

“You changed Emma’s routine without telling me. You lied to Melissa. You created conflicting pickup instructions. Emma was standing at school today wondering which adult she was supposed to believe.”

“I was trying to protect her.”

“From what?”

“From him.”

“What has he

done?”

Ryan said nothing.

Then I said, “Emma told me she doesn’t trust you anymore.”

His face went pale. “She said that?”

“Yes.”

“She’s seven. She doesn’t understand what she’s saying.”

“Don’t decide she doesn’t mean it because you don’t like hearing it.”

He went still.

I asked, “What did Travis confront you about?”

Ryan’s eyes shifted.

“He stuck his nose into our parenting.”

“How?”

“Do you always have to do that?” Ryan snapped. “Is it really asking so much to expect you to trust me, your husband?”

I stared at him for a long moment.

Then I pulled out my phone and called someone.

“I need you to come over, please. Now,” I said.

I hung up.

“Who was that?” Ryan asked, his voice laced with urgency.

“Someone who I hope will give me the answers you won’t.”

—

Ten minutes later, Travis stood inside our doorway while Ryan glared

at him.

I folded my arms.

“Tell me what Emma told you.”

He looked uncomfortable. “She started asking why Ryan didn’t like me.”

Ryan scoffed.

Travis ignored him. “At first I told her adults don’t always get along. Then she said Ryan kept asking her questions about me.”

I looked at my husband. “What questions?”

Travis answered.

“Whether I ever took her somewhere else. Whether I bought her things. Whether I let her do things you wouldn’t allow. Whether I told her to keep secrets.”

My stomach tightened.

Ryan said, “Those are normal questions.”

“The questions weren’t the problem,” Travis replied. “At least, not the first time you asked them, but then you kept pushing after she answered you.”

I looked at Ryan. He wouldn’t meet my eyes.

Travis continued. “She told me you kept bringing it up. Eventually you told her, ‘You don’t have to protect Travis. You can